By TCN News,

New Delhi: A number of civil rights activists and concerned citizens today held a meeting under the banner ‘Aman Ekta Manch’ and has decided to hold a demonstration outside the UP Bhawan on September 12 at 2.0 pm.

A press statement by the Aman Ekta Manch said, “It has been more than a week that Western part of Uttar Pradesh is witnessing uninterrupted communal violence. Dozens of people have lost lives, and many families are fleeing from the area. The Government is not showing any political will to take action and stop the violence. The administration and Government are only playing blame game.”

“There are many political interests that are trying to outdo others. The result is that the violence that started from Muzaffar Nagar has now spread into others cities, towns and villages,” they added.

At the meeting held today, it was decided to hold a demonstration in front of Uttar Pradesh Bhavan on 12th of September at 2.00 pm and to together decide on further actions after the meeting together to decide further actions.

The campaign will run under Aman Ekta Manch ( AEM) that came into existence in 2002. The logistics part of AEM will be handled from Institute for Social Democracy (ISD).

Those who attended today’s meeting included:

Tanveer Fazal, Himnshu Kumar, Ahmad Sohaib, Mansi Sharma , Bhasha Singh , Atul chaurasiya, Ali Javed, Arjumand Ara, Shanawaz Malik, Manisha Pandey, Nalin, Ankit Agrawal, Asad Ashraf, Imran Ali, Poorva Bhardwaj, Laraib Akram, Apoorvanad, Khurshid Anwar and Mahtab Alam.

By IANS,

Lucknow : The BJP Wednesday criticised Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for giving a clean chit to his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav over the riots in Muzaffarnagar that left 38 dead.

Questioning Mulayam Singh Yadav's statement in Agra Tuesday that the state government had done well to control the riots, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said that with 38 dead and several injured and the army being called in for the first time in two decades, "what else was administrative failure?"

"These are one of the worst communal clashes in recent times and yet the Samajwadi Party chief chose to pat the state government. It leaves little to be said," the BJP spokesman said.

He also criticised Mulayam Singh Yadav for calling the communal clashes a "caste conflict".

The BJP Tuesday met Governor B.L. Joshi and sought his intervention in improving law and order in the state. The party's national leadership has demanded dismissal of the Akhilesh Yadav government over the communal clashes.

The party has rallied behind Kairana legislator Hukum Singh who is the BJP legislature party's leader in the state assembly after the district administration booked him for his role in the riot.

With his staying put in Muzaffarnagar and the monsoon session of the state assembly slated to begin Sep 16, party sources told IANS that MLA's have been asked to reach Muzaffarnagar to meet Hukum Singh.

Satish Mahana, BJP legislator from Kanpur, has been assigned the task of mobilizing the lawmakers to reach Muzaffarnagar.

The state government has banned the entry of political leaders to the violence-hit city.

By IANS,

New Delhi : The Supreme Court will on Thursday hear a plea seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the communal flare-up in Muzzafarnagar in Uttar Pradesh that has claimed nearly 40 lives.

An apex court bench headed by Justice G.S. Singhvi said it would hear the matter Thursday as senior counsel Gopal Subramaniam, appearing for nine petitioners, noted that human life could not be lost on account of negligence in governance.

“We only think that they are human beings,” Justice Singhvi observed as Subramaniam said the plea was a cry of anguish and the victims could not be distinguished on the basis of their caste, creed or colour.

By IANS,

Lucknow : A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court (HC) in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday, seeking a CBI probe into all riots in the state in the last 18 months.

The period would cover the regime of the Samajwadi Party (SP) government led by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, that came to power in Uttar Pradesh in March 2012.

Petitioner Nutan Thakur has said that the action and policy of the current government and its officials has been such that it shows a definite tilt towards a particular community.

"In all the riots that took place in last 18 months, the administration shied away from taking action against the culprits of a particular sect," the petitioner has alleged.

The petitioner has said that the actions of the government have resulted in a sense of mistrust in members of the other community, including the petitioner herself.

Thakur narrated that various communal riots, beginning with Mathura June 1, 2012 to Pratapgarh, Bareilly, Lucknow, Allahabad, Ghaziabad, Faizabad, Azamgarh to Meerut and Amethi, pointed to partisan and ineffective action.

The petitioner has sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation or by the one-man Justice Vishnu Sahay Commission appointed by the Akhilesh Yadav government to probe the Muzaffarnagar riots of Sep 7 that have claimed 38 lives.

The petitioner said a probe by the premier investigative agency, as is underway in the Gujarat riots of 2002, was necessary to get to the bottom of the chain of violent clashes in Uttar Pradesh.

By IANS,

Lucknow : The Uttar Pradesh government Wednesday announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs.1 million to the next of kin of each to the 38 people killed in the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has also directed the Muzaffarnagar district authorities to ensure free and quality treatment to those injured, a spokesman of the chief minister's office here said.

Those seriously injured would be given Rs.50,000 each.

Yadav had earlier announced an ex-gratia of Rs.500,000 to the next of kin of each of the dead, barring Rs.1 million for a television journalist. But as the death toll rose, it was decided to hike the financial assistance, officials told IANS.

Officials in Muzaffarnagar have been asked to ensure prompt rehabilitation of the affected people.

"Instructions have been given to district officials that there should be no shortage of essential items and that a proper listing and assessment of damages be done," the official said.

Authorities have been asked to be in touch with the affected people and to collect details of loss to their property.

By TCN News,

Ajmer: Dewan Syed Zainul Abedin Ali Khan, successor and Sajjadanashin (Custodian) the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty has written to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on the Muzaffarnagar riots, expressing his concern.

“It is a matter of serious concern for every responsible and peace-loving of the country that the Samajwadi Government has lately been passing through the phase of highly critical and testing time, at the current juncture,” adding, “I appreciate your concerns with regard to the deteriorating law and order situation in the state particularly the part of western UP which has been a witness to a mournful colossal loss of most precious human lives.”

He emphasised that the “losses so having been suffered essentially deserve not to be viewed in the context of caste,creed or religion.”

He also assured all his “cooperation and assistance,” adding that if need be, he would make himself available to the “cause of humanity and mutual brotherhood by personally visiting areas effected by the recent unfortunate violence which has served no end.”

In a separate message, appealing for peace and harmony, Dewan Syed Zainul Abedin Ali Khan said, “My heart is bleeding on account of happenings in Muzaffarnagar which was the well calculated move of the miscreants and anti-social elements.”

He called upon all the responsible citizens of the country to “stop mud-slinging and instead focus their energies to bail the nation out of this curse.”

By TCN News,

New Delhi: A delegation of Khudai Khidmatgar met the Chairman of National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Wajahat Habibullah and urged him to take immediate actions.

A delegation lead by Khudai Khidmatgar Secretary Inamul Hasan, Moulana Fateh Mohd, Mohd Faizan, Verma Ji and members of other Civil societies met the NCM Chairman at his office and submitted a memorandum.

During discussion with the Wajahat Habibullah urged all sections of the society to maintain peace and to work together towards communal harmony. He also stressed on the need of relief materials to reach the victims on time.

They also visited the offices of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and leaders of several political parties and sought appointment from them, besides submitting the memorandum, urging them to press for immediate actions to maintain law and order in Muzaffarnagar and other districts of Western UP.

Khudai Khidmatgar expressed concerns on migration of people from minority community to ‘safer places’ comparing it with the last year Assam riots and decade old Gujarat pogrom, when we saw similar pattern, though on much larger scale.

The Khudai Khidmatgar volunteers have urged the political parties to instruct their local units to help in maintaining law and order and to organise ‘harmony’ rally taking all sides on board. It also appealed to the SP government to maintain law and order in the region.

By CM Paul, TwoCircles.net,

Bandel/Kolkata: In a land mark judgment the Calcutta High Court upheld Church’s right over its disputed property ending a prolonged legal battle spanning almost two decades.

The historic Portuguese Church (estbalished in 1599) on the banks of Hooghly river near Kolkata was dragged into the legal battle in July 1995 when a Civil Miscellaneous Petition Case was filed by Biswanath Mondal and others of the locality in the Court of the Sub-Divisional Executive Magistrate (SDEM) Hooghly challenging the order of the Church authorities restraining them from organizing any sort of games/sports within the Church grounds.

Bandel Church, historic Marian shrine

The Church authorities sprung into action and obtained in Mach 1996 a clear and strong Order in favour of Bandel Church and its right to restrain any unlawful trespassing of its grounds.

Aggrieved by this Order, the opponents intensified their efforts to malign the Church authorities through all sorts of false propaganda and, in defiance of the SDEM’s Order, began to go round with loud speakers making false accusations and instigating the public against the Church.

With due permission and support from the district authorities the Church authorities started to construct a wall to seal off the disputed property. In a month’s time of the Order, on Good Friday, 5 April 1996, the Opposite party, having failed to obtain an interim stay of the Court Order, “resorted to sheer violence and vandalism that culminated in the total demolition of the boundary walls, extensive damage to the Church property, desecration of the holy place of worship, and attacks on the minority Christian community and its institutions,” says then Head Master of church run St John’s School Bandel Fr K.T. Thomas who acted as Church’s spokesperson.

Meanwhile preparations for the celebration of the 400th anniversary (1599-1999) of the foundation of Bandel Church started. The church was elevated to the status of a Basilica by the Vatican in 1988 in recognition of its national and international significance as a Marian Shrine of Pilgrimage and as the oldest Church in Eastern India.

During the year-long celebrations beginning in November 1998, and particularly for the grand finale in November 1999 many eminent personalities and high level dignitaries, both national and international, including the President of India, Portuguese Ambassador and others would be invited.

Seeing that the opponents were intentionally dragging and delaying the conclusion of the judicial process, the Church authorities approached the Calcutta High Court and obtained an Interim Order dated 24th March 1999 permitting the Church to enclose its grounds with a new boundary wall as well as to re-construct the crumbling old monastery building adjacent to the said grounds.

In 2004, the High Court directed the Trial Court to dispose of the suit within 3 months positively. Aggrieved by this judgment, the Plaintiffs filed Title Appeal in the Additional District Court, Hooghly.

Challenging the said impugned judgment and decree passed by the learned First Appellate Court the Church authorities filed a Second Appeal in the Calcutta High Court which admitted the appeal for hearing by and called for the entire suit to be brought to the High Court and declared that the verdict of the Trial Court would remain valid until final disposal of the matter in the High Court.

The disputed filed in front of the church.

After eight long years, finally the Appeal was taken up for hearing on 5th and 6th August 2013, the long-pending dispute over Bandel Church Grounds was finally settled by the Hon’ble Justice, Sri Tapan Kumar Dutt, of Calcutta High Court.

“The Courts have arrived at their conclusions on the strength of the evidence on record, and documents/exhibits, the veracity of which has remained unchallenged and there is nothing to disbelieve them,” judge Dutt declared.

The Trial Court concluded that important things are noticed from the records of right, i.e., the name of the Bandel Church as owner has been recorded in respect of the suit property in the land records.

Second, the Church regularly paid rent in respect of the suit Khatian to the Government.

Third, the Church had given permission to some persons and/or organizations to hold sports and/games on the suit property and on the basis of such permission games and sports were held on the suit property, proving that Bandel Church alone had the ownership and use of the suit property.

Fourth, evidence has been adduced by the Church showing that a portion of the suit property was requisitioned at one point of time by the Government but the same was subsequently derequisitioned in favour of the Church since Bandel Church is the owner of the suit plot.

Fifth, evidence shows that Bandel Church has been regularly paying Municipal Taxes and Land Revenues and the suit property is the absolute private property of the Church.

In conclusion, the court noted that “ever since the construction of the new boundary wall with the Hon’ble High Court’s Order, and the successful completion of the grand 4th Centenary celebrations of the foundation of the Church (1599-1999), peace and normalcy has been prevailing in and around Bandel Church with no disturbance of any sort reported.”

By TCN News,

Dehuradun: Pahal, a Dehradun based NGO, distributed more than 200 disaster relief kits in the far-flung areas of Kumaon. The relief work was undertaken to cover Khajurani, Talla Gazar, Malla Gazar, Pakhakarik, Kaula, Puniabagad, and Kheera in Almora district.

The affected area spans to about 50 kms and are situated in the remote corners on Chamoli and Bageshwar districts. The block headquarters of Chaukhutia and district headquarters are as far as 35-125 kms from these villages.

Most of the important roads and bridges which connected them with the mainstream are broken due to heavy rains and cloud-burst. The PDS ration is not reaching people who need it. These geographical factors made this part of Uttarakhand quite neglected in terms of flood relief activities and support.

Since June, Pahal had been co-ordinating with organisations gather support and relief material for the affected areas. Communication about the requirements and making the outside world aware about the calamity had been the top priority for their staff. Pahal has partnered with other organisations to get the best possible rescue and relief operation in place, developed a rapid survey and study plan for the next step.

Pahal has appealed to the like-minded organisations led to the contribution of relief material with was channelled to the beneficiaries through government agencies.

Pahal carried out its first round of flood relief in August where they collected relief material locally and corporates from Bangalore and Hyderabad. Pahal’s staff volunteered right from logistic co-ordination, storing, segregation and re-packaging to distributing it to the villagers in the remote areas of Kumaon region.

Local volunteers of organisations like Gandhi Peace Foundation, Yuva Biradari, and Rahat Manch helped get clear picture of the prevailing scenario. This information helped them plan the relief project and prioritize based on needs.

Pahal’s staff set up base camp in Chaukhutiya block and distributed more than 150 relief packs including clothes, atta, rice, sugar, spices, milk powder, salt, tea, soap etc.

On closed and muddy roads a camp was organised to distribute 75 kits in Kheeda on Aug 27th, another camp was organised the next day where 28 relief kits were distributed at a camp the next day. On 1st September another camp was organized in Godi primary school where more than 60 villagers were given relief kits.

Contact Pahal: Website-www.pahalnainital.org

Official Email - naipahal@yahoo.co.uk, islam@pahalnainital.org
contact@pahalnainital.org

Book: Zionist Conspiracies in the Citadel of Islam
Author: Syed Zubair Ahmad
Pages: 375
Price: Rs 200
Publisher: Impact Books, Delhi
Distributor: New Crescent Publishing Company, Delhi

By Amnaah Khalid, TwoCircles.net,

The role and expectation of Muslims from Saudi Arabia in the current Syrian crisis and the Arab uprising has puzzled many, particularly because the ‘higher status’ it enjoys for being the “Custodians of the two holy Mosques”. The sharp differences between the ‘expected’ role and the one actually being executed were observed by the author of the book under review, while working in the Kingdom, that became the driving force for writing the book in Urdu, which English translation in also now out.

Although a personal account, Zionist Conspiracies in the Citadel of Islam by Syed Zubair Ahmed clearly identifies the “clash and conflict” of Islamic values, the use of political Islam, Westernization in the Islamic state against the claim of Custodian of the holy mosques and preserving the Islamic tradition as a model society. The book was initially written in Urdu, Yaad-e-Haram, that’s now translated with minor revisions and two new chapters; “Long live the King” and “The Arab Spring” to make the author’s observations contemporary and relevant in the fast changing landscape of Middle East.

It has three central themes: Zionist agenda in the kingdom, the disparity and discrimination in working conditions of Muslims, the interpretation of Islamic values in the country. In 358 pages the author sets to prove, “to brand Saudi Arabia as an Islamic country is to make a mockery of Islam.”

The recent Wiki Leaks have revealed how the ‘Custodian of Islam’ openly invited the US to bomb Iranian nuclear sites, in his own words to “Cut the head of the snake” (Iran). And yet inspite of support to the Palestinian cause and huge amount of aid sent, surprisingly no objection with Israel’s nuclear weapons. The author wonders, “if the most important ‘Islamic’ ruler of Muslim world and the ‘champion’ of Islamic cause has collaborated with Zionist-Antichrist-Imperialist forces then who will convey the last message of God to mankind and solve the problems of humanity? Who will fight against those imperialist forces that have enslaved the entire mankind for their selfish interests? Who will support the Jesus (PBUH) on his second coming and defeat The Antichrist (Dajjal) and his army of Zionists, Neo-conservatives, Evangelists, infidels and polytheists?”

The traditional rivalry of Muslims and Jews is seen through the massive investment of Jewish businesses in nearly every sector of society and their huge deals royal family. The close relationship with US in regional politics against Muslim rather than Arab nations is seen against Islamic interest:

“The rude shock of discrimination between Muslims from economically backward countries starts from the airport where a group of Bangladeshi workers are uniformed and mistreated like slaves and given the worse salaries and jobs from the point of issuing only sweeper’s visa and manhandled !! Salaries are paid not by qualification but by the patronage given to different nationalities; so an American will earn much more than an Egyptian or Indian or even a Saudi. Employee abuse and irregularities have no mean of being addressed or rectified instead become the reason for further animosity and bad relations. No support system was in place for converters or wishes of employees to fulfill their religious duties. Often the mirage remained ever far when on the same land as their country of origin. The worker from poor nation often came with debt, would spiral into long term low paying jobs away from family for years with no regulation of working hours or security of job they instead depend on culture of patronage. Several episodes are related of great inhumanity an u Islamic practices.”

In the name of modernization, historic and culturally important landmarks were destroyed to make way for skyscrapers luxury hotels and malls in Makkah and Medina which again are for the rich.

Such inaccessibility and commercialization is resented by many and particularly regarded as unislamic and a reminder of pre Islamic culture of pilgrimage and trade in Arabia. He discusses some crucial decisions taken by Khadim Al Haramain Al Sharifain (Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques) which include “removal of some Quranic verses from the school syllabus in which Jews and Christian were lamented for their misdeeds, the establishment of an ‘Anti-Terrorism Center’ in Riyadh, giving permission to Israel to use Saudi airspace and bomb Iran, initiating ‘interfaith dialogues’ (with those who are planning to stockpile nuclear arms in space) organizing film festivals, introducing co-education, erasing the remains of Islamic history and building American style shopping malls in the vicinity of Kaba. The ‘cultural imperialism’, better we call ‘cultural invasion’ of the west, which has already run over the citadel of Islam, is much more dangerous than military invasion in Arab land. The political slavery of the west has turned into mental slavery as well. The future is predicted using different Reports assisting policy making in the Middle East.”

The Rand Corporation’s two reports about Islam published in March and December 2004 referred are sourced to predict the direction of US relations with Muslims. The reports, “Civil Democratic Islam: Partners, Resources” authored by Cheryl Benard and “US strategy in the Muslim World After 9/11” written by Angel Rabasa Bernard or Rabasa report were “to identify possible strategies and sets of political and military options to help the United States meet challenges and exploit opportunities presented by changed conditions in the Muslim world.”

It divides Muslims into four broad groups—‘fundamentalists’, ‘traditionalists’, ‘modernists’ and ‘secularists’—and suggests different policies to deal with them. To promote modernization and undertake Madrass education reform, join war on terrorism that later became a blanket for eliminating opposition.

Though neither an academic work nor fully journalistic, but certainly informative, engaging and an eye opener, the book appears to be a promising Introduction to the issues of the Muslim World, although it relies too much on 'observations', not always aptly substantiated with documentary facts.

(Amnaah Khalid is a Research Scholar at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in Kuala Lumpur and can be reached atamnahf@gmail.com)

By Shaik Zakeer Hussain, TwoCircles.net,

Bangalore: City based techie, M P Ahmed Hasan, has authored “The Liferay Cookbook”, a one of its kind comprehensive handbook on Liferay Portal - a free and open source enterprise framework, primarily used to power corporate intranets and extranets.

Hasan is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of mPower Global, the city-based startup he established eight years ago, in the basement of a Masjid.

M P Ahmed Hasan

Hasan says his dream is to see his work be, "the most referred Liferay book in the world". And to make it possible, his company has made it available for free. But how does the company compensate for the cost incurred for its publication and the amount of time and expertise put into the book?

The CEO, Akbar Ali explains: "It was a big challenge for the management to agree to this free idea as the cost incurred to launch this book was huge. After many discussions and debates I considered this noble idea of "Making it free" to the mass audience".

The idea, he says, was also endorsed by Brian Chan, the chief software architect, who created Liferay in 2000. Subsequently, the book was unveiled by him, at Liferay Inc's head quarters in Los Angeles, USA. This is another major milestone for Hasan and the organization in the international technology arena, who in 2008 was awarded the FICCI-Lockheed Martin Innovation award for his product "mPire", an auto code-generation tool, which helps companies develop Web based applications in 1/10th of the actual time.

According to the company, within a month of its launch the cookbook has attracted hundreds of readers from across the world. Technologists and leaders from many organizations in USA, Saudi Arabia, UK, Spain, Germany, France, Africa, Malaysia and Australia have downloaded the book.

Hasan urges the young IT aspirants in the community and outside to take full advantage of his book which, he says, will help them scale up their career.

The investment for learning the Liferay technology, which, according to IT research and advisory firm Gartner, is the "world's leading open source enterprise portal solution using the latest in Java and Web 2.0 technologies", is approx 4 Lakh per individual, but with his book it comes absolutely free.

"The Liferay Cookbook" can be downloaded at mPower Global website.

Related:

mPire of Hasan Ahmad wins Lockheed Martin Innovation Award

By IANS,

Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday cautioned people against indulging in religious discrimination.

"I request you to not indulge in Hindu-Muslim differentiation," Banerjee said in Diamond Harbour of South 24-Parganas district.

Obviously referring to the communal clashes in Uttar Pradesh, she said: "Such incidents do not happen in Bengal where members of both communities participate in the festive revelry.

"Both Hindus and Muslims celebrate pujas together. Do we ask who is from what background? Do we distribute prasad according to religion ... We don't. We will celebrate together ... live together peacefully. I am pro-peace," said Banerjee.

"If there is some apprehension, then always think that there must be some anti-social element behind it," she said.

By IANS,

New Delhi : Hinting at a political hand behind the communal violence in Uttar Pradesh, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Wednesday said more such incidents might be witnessed as the 2014 general elections approach.

"I cannot say about political conspiracies till I get a complete report about the violence (in Muzaffarnagar). But political parties could indulge in it," he told reporters here.

Shinde said the central government had warned 11 states about possible communal violence ahead of the general elections.

"As we approach the election, we may witness more such communal violence. We have alerted 11 states," he said.

Shinde said the situation in western Uttar Pradesh has improved considerably.

"Eighty companies (8,000 personnel) of paramilitary forces were deployed (in Uttar Pradesh). The army was also deployed. Curfew has been relaxed now. The situation is improving," he said.

No untoward incident was reported from Muzaffarnagar Tuesday as 975 people were arrested for their "direct or indirect" role in the communal violence that claimed nearly 40 lives.

The situation was tense but under control and curfew was relaxed for an hour, Shinde said.

Law and Justice Minister Kapil Sibal said: "At this moment we must look at healing people and getting people together."

"I hope and pray all political parties get together with the intention to heal rather than cut. We all are bereaved. We understand the grief of the people and hope for a harmonious situation soon," he said, on the sidelines of a function here.

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh told reporters: "This (communal violence) has happened in other states like Bihar and Rajasthan also. I think we should be careful."

By TCN News,

London: In a rare display of unity representatives of various socio-religious and human rights organisations picketed today outside Brent Civic Centre in London against the invitation sent to the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi by a group of British MPs led by Barry Gardiner.

Holding placards with messages including, “We will not forget Genocide 2002” and “Killer Modi not welcome here”, protestors shouted slogans, “Barry Gardiner, Shame, Shame! Inviting Modi, Not in Our Name”, “Barry, Barry don’t lie – Modi’s Guilty of Genocide”, “Who killed Ishrat Jahan? Modi did, Modi did”, “Modi is a murderer”, “Barry Gardiner shame on you shame on you”.

Despite heavy rain more than 100 delegates participated in the picket organised by South Asia Solidarity Group and supported by Council of Indian Muslims—UK (CoIM); Brent Trades Council, Foil Vedanta; Islamic Human Rights Commission; CasteWatch UK; Southall Black Sisters; Indian Workers Association Birmingham; South Asian Alliance; Asian Rationalist Society; Freedom Without Fear Platform.

A theatrical stunt was also performed about the relationship between Barry Gardiner and Narendra Modi in which two protesters dressed as Gardiner and Modi cavorted together with Modi brandishing MOUs and sheaves of dollars. They were then drenched with fake blood by the protesters.

Deluding himself that he will be able to mollify the picketers as Gardiner came outside and tried to tell them that they were protesting against an invitation that had been declined and that he was willing to listen to and be lobbied by anyone. Challenging Barry Gardiner’s lies South Asian Solidarity’s Amrit Wilson told him that he had been lying and misguiding the public. Calling his bluff Ms Wilson told him that he had refused to see someone with a Muslim name but another person with English name had no problem in getting an appointment. Ms Wilson said both gentlemen belonged to South Asia Solidarity Group.

Two activists acting as Barry Gardiner and Modi

Ms Wilson later said, “In the face of so much opposition to the invitation to Modi, Barry Gardiner has now released a statement saying that Modi is unable to come in the next few weeks. But we are continuing our campaign demanding that the invitation is officially withdrawn and not repeated. Modi has already tried to make political capital in India from this invitation, and we need to send a clear message that he is not welcome here”
Despite his bluff being called by various organisations and individuals, Gardiner continued claiming that he had received only five emails complaining about his invitation. He also distributed photocopies, with the same text that he had used to respond to CoIM, with an additional intro claiming that he was willing to talk to anyone and that he has been responding to all the emails he has been receiving.

Barry Gardiner and Narendra Modi drenched with blood by the protestors

Hearing terse arguments and seeing the angry mood of the pickets Gardiner made his way into the Town Hall while protesters shouted, “shame, shame, shame”.

Members of Kesri Lehar travelled all the way from Coventry to protest against Barry Gardiner’s invitation to the butcher of Gujarat

Zeena later said, “We have responded to each and every lie and distortion in Barry Gardiner’s letter with proofs and documents. He has been constantly lying. He has been supporting Modi since 2002 and had welcomed him in London in 2003 when, even according to his misperceptions, misinterpretations and distortions, Modi had not been ‘exonerated’ by a court of law. He has been displaying shameful opportunism and has been using Modi’s testimonials in his election campaign to win votes.”

[Photos Courtesy: coimuk.org]

By TCN News,

New Delhi: Jamiat Ulama –i- Hind general secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani today once again blamed the Uttar Pradesh government for its failure and deliberate carelessness in quelling the violence in the western UP and in a letter to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, he reiterated his demand for dismissal of the Akhilesh Kumar government.

Maulana Madani expressed his disappointment over the deteriorating law and order situation in the affected region after visiting the riot hit areas of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli today. He silently rushed early morning on his adventurous visit without his own Z security to find out the real situation and meet with the terrorized people.

Maulana Mahmood Madani addressing Muslim Community at Village Shahpur

Maulana Madani said we along with the JUH central delegation visited Jola, shuram, Shahpur, Qassaban, Bhavdi, Fugana, Harsoli, Tawoli, Tewda, Jansath, Sher Nagar, Kerana but we were shocked to learn that despite tall assurances from the ruling movement, forces were found nowhere present in any villages that exposes the seriousness and so- called tightness of the government.

We are surprised why the SP government is showing so much laxity and what it really wants to achieve, said Maulana Madani adding that in my presence, 3 women came to Kandhla who had fled their village kerthan in Baghpat. They were very frightened and were weeping badly.

Maulana Mahmood Madani visiting injured person at Village Tevra

“People are still fleeing their home, leaving behind their animals and properties on the mercy of miscreants,” Maulana Mahmood Madani said yesterday in a combined press conference, where all leading Muslim organizations demanded dismissal of Akhilesh government.

Maulana Madani narrated a horrified story of a woman among the eight dead bodies buried today in Jola village who and her son were burnt alive while the latter was glued to her chest. “I feel very sad to recount that tale,” he said, adding “I have been told in a camp that many dead bodies are still lying in villages from where Muslims have fled and no one is there to care.”

Ten thousands people have taken shelter in Jola, four thousands in Shahpur, one thousand in Qassaban, ten thousands are in Budhana and many hundred in various places are taking shelter provided by locals without any help and without access to basic need from the government.

Relief Camp at Budhana

He asked what could be fate of a government which has failed on all counts; it is not providing security in villages and its carelessness about those who had to flee their villages.

Maulana Madani said we met with Jat community members and gathered people from the both the sides and urged them to maintain old brotherly relationship. “In shuram village we met with Jat leader Chaudhry Vikram Singh, he assured us to restore friendly co-existence in the region. We also organized a peace rally in Shahpur today and constituted a relief team to provide healing touch to the affected,” he said, adding “Our relief team is working there and we are planning to provide relief for every one without considering their religion and caste”

By IANS,

Muzaffarnagar : A tense Muzaffarnagar was largely calm Wednesday even as the death toll in one of the worst communal outbreaks in Uttar Pradesh officially stood at 37.

Officials speaking on the condition of anonymity, however, told IANS that 48 people have been killed.

They said two bodies were found from a farm in Kiran village in neighbouring Baghpat, where a few policemen were injured Wednesday when a mob pelted them with stones, officials said.

The situation was soon brought under control, and 25 people were booked for the violence.

The government had earlier put the death toll at 38 but clarified later that a man found dead had no links to the communal violence which engulfed Muzaffarnagar district from Saturday to Monday.

Tens of thousands of men and women poured on to the streets for panic buying of essential commodities when authorities relaxed curfew Wednesday noon for four hours.

When the four hours got over, the otherwise bustling Muzaffarnagar again became a ghost town, taken over by soldiers and other security forces.

On Tuesday, the curfew was lifted for 90 minutes. All educational institutions remain shut.

According to official statistics, 93 people were injured in the riots, of which nine remain in hospital. Three of them are in critical condition.

The Uttar Pradesh government Wednesday announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs.1 million to the next of kin of each of the dead. Those seriously injured would be given Rs.50,000 each.

Eight columns of the army marched through the streets of the city of four million to give a sense of security to its shell-shocked residents.

An additional 29 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and paramilitary forces have also been deployed in the city.

Inspector General of Police Ashish Gupta said over 2,000 arms licences had been cancelled in the region where many people, including in the rural areas, possess weapons for more reasons than one.

The Uttar Pradesh government, facing flak that it did not act promptly to curb the violence, again appealed to people not to pay heed to rumours.

An official spokesman said a one-man judicial commission of Justice Vishnu Sahay will be based in Muzaffarnagar, 130 km west of New Delhi, and submit its report in two months.

The commission was appointed Tuesday to study the reasons behind the riots.

Home Secretary Kamal Saxena also urged people not to be carried away by video clips on mobile phones and social networking sites.

He said the National Security Act had been slapped on seven people and further legal action against them was being taken.

In a related development, a public interest litigation was filed in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court seeking a probe by the CBI into the 35-odd communal clashes Uttar Pradesh has seen since Akhilesh Yadav became the chief minister in March 2012.

In Agra, the ruling Samajwadi Party's national executive admitted that the violence had dented its image.

Party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav, however, endorsed party chief Mulayam Singh's view that the Muzaffaranagar violence was a caste and not a communal riot.

In Lucknow, central Minister of State for HRD Jatin Prasad demanded the resignation of Akhilesh Yadav.

Accusing the state government of "total failure", the minister said he wondered how a government which prevented the "84 kosi yatra" of the Hindu groups in Ayodhya failed to prevent the Muzaffarnagar riots.

In New Delhi, the Supreme Court said it will Thursday hear a plea seeking a CBI probe into the Muzaffarnagar violence.

The nine petitioners have sought an investigation into the "whole incident of mass genocide" and "proper and adequate rehabilitation" for an estimated 20,000 victims.

By IANS,

Agra : Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, under attack over the Muzaffarnagar violence, declared Wednesday that he was not in the race to be the country's prime minister.

Mulayam Singh made the announcement at the start of a two-day meeting of the party's national executive in this Taj Mahal town.

With most party leaders looking lost in the wake of the communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar, the Samajwadi Party, which is in power in Uttar Pradesh, said it was ready to forge a Third Front of smaller regional outfits.

The party blamed "communal elements" led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the Muzaffarnagar clashes that have left 37 people dead and said its government acted "fast and fairly" to restore normalcy.

But even as party leader Naresh Agarwal blamed the BJP, Mulayam Singh created more confusion by saying the riots were more of a caste riot, not a communal one.

Senior party leader Mohammed Azam Khan's absence proved an embarrassment for party managers who insisted that he was unwell.

Azam Khan has come out openly against the state government following the Muzaffarnagar violence.

The party attacked the UPA government for allegedly mis-managing the economy and for failing to tackle threats on the borders, especially from China.

It indicted the Congress-led UPA government for the rising corruption "beyond imagination".

In his presidential address at Hotel Mughal, Mulayam Singh said the country's unity and secular values were under serious threat.

He said India's problems cannot be resolved by the major political parties. Therefore, smaller regional outfits should forge unity, he said, ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

The party also opposed the formation of new states. Division of big states was no guarantee for development, it said, adding that the Congress had plunged Andhra Pradesh into flames by dividing it.

By IANS,

Srinagar: Indefinite curfew was Thursday imposed in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian town in the wake of protests against the gunning down of a man Wednesday, officials said.

Residents said Muhammad Rafi Rather, a 28-year-old bus driver, was shot down by the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel posted at Gagaran camp, around 50 km from here.

They said the incident took place near Shopian town without any provocation as the man was passing by the camp.

Two other people, including a girl, sustained bullet wounds in the incident, they said.

A CRPF spokesman, however, denied any firing by personnel posted at Gagaran.

"CRPF did not open fire. Our men were not even deployed on the streets," CRPF spokesman Kishore Prasad told reporters in Srinagar.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Abdul Gani Mir told IANS that police were investigating the incident. He said they were also probing Saturday's firing incident at Gagaran in which four people were killed.

While residents say all the four killed were civilians, Mir said three had no militancy record and were "obviously" civilians. The fourth person killed in Saturday's firing was a militant, he said.

"Locals said he was a labourer from Bihar, but our channels say he was a militant," the IGP said.

The police chief said cases have been registered in both incidents.

Separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani called for a shutdown in the Kashmir valley and the Chenab valley districts of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban Thursday over the killing of the man in Shopian.

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik also called for a sit-in at the city centre Lal Chowk in Srinagar Friday.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high level meeting in Srinagar Wednesday evening to review the security situation in the town.

By TCN News,

Bhopal: Since the last eleven days, a historic civil disobedience movement is being carried out by thousands of oustees of the Districts Dewas, Khandwa, and Harda of Madhya Pradesh affected by the Indira Sagar dam which has the largest impoundment in the country.

Although the State has tried to crush the movement by declaring section 144 of IPC on the waters of the Indira Sagar dam, but in all three districts, thousands of oustees have broken 144 and offered arrests, and spread Jal satyagraha further.

Thus Jal satyagraha is being carried out in 6 places with full vigor and determination. The Narmada Bachao Andolan demands that instead of using police force on the people, the State Government should fulfill their legitimate demands and undo the historic injustice that has been wreaked on them.

This protest demonstration is being organised in support of the struggling people in Narmada valley but condemning the illegal action by Madhya Pradesh government, has harassed and jailed satyagrahis and also lobbied with the Centre to bring in crucial amendment to the new land bill which will have impact on all the communities affected by dam building in the country.

In support of the Satyagrahis, a demonstration has been organised in front of Madhya pradesh Bhawan on September 12, Thursday at 12:30 pm in Delhi by National Alliance of People's Movements, Delhi Solidarity Group, Khudai Khidmatgar, Domestic Workers Union, Domestic Workers Forum, Delhi Mahila Shahri Kaamgaar Union, and others.

(Moredetails on www.narmadabachaoandolan.wordpress.com)

By IANS,

Lucknow : With calm prevailing for the third consecutive day in Uttar Pradesh's violence-hit Muzaffarnagar district Thursday, authorities moved on to identifying the victims, their lost property and began work on rehabilitation.

Officials told IANS that till now their priority was to contain the communal violence -- in which 38 people were killed -- and the situation thereafter. But now their focus has shifted to ensuring proper and adequate supply of essential items, reopening of educational institutions and identifying the victims.

"The first half of the week has gone in controlling the violence, we are now focused on bringing life back to normal and the process of identifying people affected by the riots -- deaths, injuries, and loss to property be it home or commercial establishments," an official said.

Home Secretary Kamal Saxena said 10 shelter camps for the displaced in the riots have been set up in which roughly 10,000 people have taken refuge. The relaxation in curfew has also taken place, he added.

Muzaffarnagar witnessed communal violence after the killing of three youths over a stalking incident.